China is breaking foreign counties’ monopoly in nuclear power technology and becomes one member of the top tiers in the nuclear power area.
On November 27, 2020, the Hualong One unit, CNNC Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5, was connected to grids. According to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Unit 5 is the world's first Hualong One reactor to be commissioned. The unit is also one of the two demonstrated Hualong One reactors in China and attained the first sustained chain reaction on October 21, 2020. The life of the nuclear reactor reaches 60 years. Unit 6 is expected to start production by the end of 2021.
A person familiar with the matter said, the reactor has become a milestone for China's nuclear power industry, which means China broke the foreign nuclear power technology monopoly and enters the top tiers in the nuclear power area. Furthermore, the breakthrough contributes to China's Belt and Road Project by giving confidence to the countries along the routes.
In Guangxi, another two demonstrated Hualong One units (HPR1000) are also being constructed by China General Nuclear at its Fangchenggang plant. Besides, CNNC also announces a construction plan of two Hualong units at the Zhangzhou plant in Fujian, and one unit at Taipingling in Guangdong. These units are expected to be connected to grids in 2022.